West Ham in for Shorey

Reading are preparing themselves for another bid for Nicky Shorey from West Ham, according to newspaper reports anyway.

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley has been chasing the England international all summer, and after previously seeing a bid rejected, so they say, the Londoners are set to return with a £5million offer.

They are keen to tie up a move before Friday, but Steve Coppell is reluctant to let him go, and with two years left on his contract is under no immediate pressure to sell to avoid another Steve Sidwell scenario.